“She’s never known any other environment other than the family that she’s been with for five years,” says Washington, “She wouldn’t know another deer. She wouldn’t know how to fend for herself.”

The DNR has agreed to allow the family to keep Lilly the deer as long as they apply for a state permit to keep deer.

Washington says Lilly will be maintained as “a herd of one” in the family’s home.

Here's a video from ABC News about Lilly's story:

*Correction: It was brought to our attention that a previously posted video was actually not a video of Lilly the deer nor did it depict the family who has cared for Lilly. We've replaced the video with one from ABC News. We apologize for the error.